How Former Gov Osoba Is Allegedly Benefiting From Dapo, Daniel, Amosun’s Political War in Ogun
Fresh details emerging from Ogun State political underground suggest former Governor Olusegun Osoba may be the quietest but biggest beneficiary of the escalating political war among Governor Dapo Abiodun, former Governor Gbenga Daniel, and former Governor Ibikunle Amosun.
Sources confirm that despite repeated calls for intervention from party stakeholders, Osoba has remained noticeably detached from reconciliation efforts as Ogun APC continues to battle internal fragmentation.
But insiders say that silence may not be accidental.
According to multiple high-ranking political sources, the former governor believes all three men contributed directly or indirectly to his political humiliation and therefore sees no reason to rescue them from the crisis consuming Ogun’s ruling elite.
“To Osoba, this is payback season,” a senior APC source said.
“He believes Dapo, Daniel and Amosun all played roles in his downfall. He wants them weakened before making any move.”
The 2003 Defeat Osoba Never Forgot
Sources close to the former governor say Osoba has never truly moved past the circumstances surrounding his defeat in 2003.
That election ended his administration and ushered in a new political order in Ogun State.
Insiders say Osoba still blames the political coalition that emerged afterward for dismantling his dominance.
Among those he allegedly holds responsible are:
Gbenga Daniel, who succeeded him as governor;
Ibikunle Amosun, who rose politically in the same anti-Osoba wave;
Dapo Abiodun, who also advanced politically under the post-2003 order and later secured key appointments.
To Osoba’s loyalists, all three men became symbols of the political order that replaced him.
Amosun’s Rise Became Osoba’s Biggest Miscalculation
In 2011, Osoba reportedly backed Amosun’s governorship ambition believing the former senator would help dismantle Daniel’s network and restore his own dominance.
Instead, insiders say Amosun quickly turned against the structure that brought him to power.
Osoba’s loyalists were allegedly sidelined, his camp weakened, and by 2015 he had effectively lost control of the political machinery he once dominated.
His son, Olumide Osoba, was also said to have suffered politically from the fallout.
Why Dapo Became Osoba’s Newest Target
Despite reportedly helping Governor Abiodun’s rise to power, Osoba’s camp claims the former governor received little in return.
Party insiders allege that under Dapo:
Osoba loyalists were denied strategic appointments.
His camp was excluded from major decisions;
He was frozen out of party structure control.
Tensions reportedly escalated further when one of Dapo’s commissioners contested against Olumide Osoba during APC primaries.
Though the commissioner eventually stepped down, sources claim Osoba viewed the move as a deliberate attempt to embarrass his family politically.
The commissioner’s reappointment after the election reportedly worsened the rift.
Why Osoba Is Allegedly Letting The Crisis Continue
According to insiders, Osoba has refused to force reconciliation because the political war benefits him strategically.
The ongoing hostilities:
Prevent Dapo from consolidating power;
Keep Daniel politically distracted;
Force Amosun into continued battle for relevance.
With all major camps weakened, Osoba’s influence as elder statesman and power broker increases.
“The crisis is keeping him relevant,” another source said.
“As long as they are fighting, nobody can ignore Osoba.”
But Can Osoba Still Capitalize?
Despite the allegations, analysts note that Osoba’s own political structure is no longer at its peak.
His camp has reportedly suffered from:
Aging loyalists,
Weak grassroots regeneration,
Poor succession planning,
Reduced operational influence.
Still, many political watchers insist his experience and strategic patience make him impossible to discount.
As Ogun’s political giants continue their supremacy battle, one uncomfortable possibility is gaining traction:
That the man many assumed had stepped into retirement may be quietly benefiting from the destruction of those who inherited his throne.
Whether by design or by circumstance, Olusegun Osoba appears once again central to Ogun’s power calculations and if the current war continues, the former governor may yet have the final laugh.
